Skip to content

1997 Sterling Acterra Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1997 Sterling Acterra. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

2 safety recalls for the 1997 Sterling Acterra

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Linkage and cable (parking brake)

    NHTSA 02V108001 Reported 548 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    On certain trucks equipped with meritor brand 12" x 4" dcm drum parking brake, the bolts used to attach the parking brake assembly to the flange yoke are too large and can interfere with the proper engagement of the braking system and possibly disengage.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the attaching bolts with the correct size bolts free of charge. Owner notification is expected to begin during october 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

  2. Antilock (service brakes)

    NHTSA 00V232002 Reported 35,405 vehicles potentially affected FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION

    Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks and school bus chassis built with bendix air ABS with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ECU), there have been reports of unwanted ABS activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed ABS wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the ABS ECU.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1997 Sterling Acterra. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare Sterling Acterra model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Sterling Acterra model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1994 Sterling Acterra10
1995 Sterling Acterra10
1996 Sterling Acterra10
1997 Sterling Acterra20
1998 Sterling Acterra40
1999 Sterling Acterra70
2000 Sterling Acterra170
2001 Sterling Acterra110
2002 Sterling Acterra61
2003 Sterling Acterra42
2004 Sterling Acterra50
2005 Sterling Acterra61
2006 Sterling Acterra72
2007 Sterling Acterra110
2008 Sterling Acterra131
2009 Sterling Acterra60
2010 Sterling Acterra50
2011 Sterling Acterra10
2012 Sterling Acterra10

Checking a specific 1997 Sterling Acterra

How do I know if my 1997 Sterling Acterra has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 Sterling Acterra; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Sterling dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V232002).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Sterling models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.